Who we are…

Quitterlequebec.com, the french version of this website was created by Jonathan Bouchard, the domain name was registered on June 24th 2005. What triggered it was a series of interviews conducted by André Arthur on CKNU, his last radio station (Known today as Quebec City’s RadioX Rock 100.9). Mr. Arthur was speaking to Quebecers that had left the province for various reasons… Since there were no known tools to measure how many Quebecers leave, and how far this phenomenon goes, QLQ aims to be a link between Quebecers in Quebec also short, a site for those who are gone and replies those who wish to do so.

Why leave?

We’d rather direct you to the QLQ Social network where you can discuss with other Quebecers from all over the world who can share their reasons and their journey. Why leave? There are many reasons and listing them all here would be unnecessary nor would it serve any purpose as there may be as many reasons as there are people.

The reasons we most often hear about revolve around Quebec’s abusive taxation, the system’s excessive leftism that not only discourages initiative but too often levels by the bottom and that just excessively digs into people’s pockets.

Do you hate Quebec?

No we don’t. To expose aberrations and anomalies that are happening in Quebec is not hating it. Those who leave don’t all do it out of hatred. They usually because they’re fed up of the current situation, not the location. To brand us with the “hater” label is way too easy and too often helps avoid a topic that makes many uncomfortable. This other aspect of the prevailing mentality in Quebec is another reason many leave.

What’s your stand on sovereignty?

We strive to remain neutral, but we do trend towards federalism and a bit to the right. We also expose the regrettable attitude prevailing in Quebec where someone is not deemed a “real” Quebecer unless they are sovereignist, leftist, pro-PQ and Francophone. You may be surprised to know that may QLQ regulars are also separatists.

What needs to be understood here is that these are not as much “Classics” sovereignists but separatists who want Quebec to separate so that they no longer need to pay for it via equalization payments. Many want Quebec to leave the Canadian federation so we can all stop hearing the same redundant and outdated eternal victim song.

If classic sovereignists are saying, “We don’t want to be in Canada,” many sovereignists outside Quebec to that will answer “WE do not want YOU to be part of Canada.”

In the ROC, many will tell you that if Quebec truly wanted to separate, it would only need to hold a referendum all over Canada. It’s not often heard in Quebec but the separatist movement does work both ways.

Does wanting to leave make you feel bad?

Do we need to feel bad about wanting to do better for ourselves? For wanting to improve our living conditions? History is filled with people who decided to go elsewhere, motivated by the sole desire of improving their life conditions. Quebec, Canada, the States and all countries in the Americas would not be here today if some people had not looked towards elsewhere. With the exception of corals or plants, there are few entities on earth who spend their whole lives in one place.

Of course some will miss their families, their loved ones… But whether you miss your loved ones in St-Jérôme because you are in Rimouski or in Vancouver, what’s the difference? They’ll be missed anyways. However, when one looks at the economic and political situations in Quebec, we are also forced to wonder: “Are you the ones feeling bad seeing that we want to go?”

Do you really think it’s better elsewhere?

The question is too specific to each and everyone. There is no universal answer. You may very well like, eg Edmonton but hate Miami. We suggest, once again, that you register for QLQ Social where you can interact with its members and get a better idea for yourself.

It all depends, once again, on where you’re going but also what skills you have. What must also be looked at, is that it all that revolves around what job you want … We invite you to visit QLQ Social or WiQLQ for further information.